KONTAN.CO.ID – Jakarta. Diabetes is a disease that kills slowly. Before becoming a disease, know the characteristics of pre-diabetes.
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood sugar is above normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Chances are, a person’s blood sugar becomes higher as his body begins to develop insulin resistance.
Keep in mind, insulin is a hormone produced by the body to process blood sugar so that it can be used by cells for energy. Now when the body becomes resistant to insulin, blood sugar levels will increase.
If left untreated, pre-diabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, blindness, and other complications. Fortunately, pre-diabetes can be treated by changing diet and lifestyle, so we can still rest easy.
However, the characteristics of pre-diabetes are sometimes difficult to know. So, here are the pre-diabetes characteristics to watch out for.
1. Blood sugar levels rise
The first characteristic of pre-diabetes is an increase in blood sugar levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following are blood sugar levels that indicate pre-diabetes or diabetes:
- Normal: below 100 mg/dL’
- Pre-diabetes: 100 to 125 mg/dL
- Diabetes: above 126 mg/dL
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To measure a person’s average blood sugar level over the past two or three months, an A1C test is required. Here are the conditions:
- If the A1C is below 5.7 percent, it means that your blood sugar is normal. If the A1C is between 5.7 and 6.4 percent, it means that someone is pre-diabetic
- If the A1C shows 6.5% or higher, a person has diabetes.
This blood sugar test is a common thing during routine medical checkups. Then keep in mind, because pre-diabetes has characteristics that are not visible, it is better for those who have reached adulthood to have diabetes tests regularly. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
2. Marks on the skin
The second characteristic of pre-diabetes is the appearance of patches on the skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, people with pre-diabetes or diabetes sometimes have yellow, brown, or reddish patches on the skin that may start as a raised bump (necrobiosis lipodica).
There are also dark, velvety patches of skin on the neck, groin, or elsewhere (acanthosis nigricans). In addition, sufferers are also likely to have hard and thickened patches on the fingers or toes, or sores or sores that don’t heal.
3. Changes in the eyes
The third characteristic of pre-diabetes is changes in the eyes. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some people with pre-diabetes may experience eye changes that can lead to diabetic retinopathy.
Yes, diabetes can damage blood vessels in the eye, or cause new blood vessels to grow, which can result in vision loss. So, if you feel blurred vision, immediately consult an ophthalmologist.
4. Frequent urination or thirst
The fourth characteristic of pre-diabetes is frequent urination or thirst. More thirst or urination than usual can be a sign of pre-diabetes or diabetes.
This is because as the sugar in the blood increases, the body tries harder to excrete it by increasing urine production. As it leaves the body, sugar draws fluids from other tissues, which may make us dehydrated and thirsty.
5. Fatigue
The fifth characteristic of pre-diabetes is fatigue. People with pre-diabetes or diabetes generally feel more tired than usual. This is because the condition prevents the body’s cells from using blood sugar as energy, making us feel tired.
“See your doctor if you are concerned about diabetes or if you think you are experiencing symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Ask your doctor for a blood sugar screening if you are at risk of developing diabetes,” says the Mayo Clinic.
Those are the various signs of pre-diabetes to watch out for. Recognizing the characteristics of pre-diabetes early on will make it easier for you to prevent this deadly disease.
This article has been published on Kompas.com with the title “Be careful, this is a sign of pre-diabetes to watch out for“,
Author : Anya Dellanita
Editor : Wisnubrata
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